Portuguese as a primary modern foreign language in the United Kingdom The teachers’ perspectives

Resumo

Recent reports accentuate that the UK needs a more robust Modern Foreign Language (MFL) policy. These developments have culminated in the introduction of MFL as a statutory subject at primary level, which has prompted foreign cultural institutes to promote the learning of foreign languages in primary schools. This paper sets out to depict the perspectives of the teachers involved in schemes of Portuguese as a MFL promoted by Instituto Camões in partnership with three London schools. An examination of the teachers’ views suggests that the language spread initiatives would benefit from further sensitivity towards the established teaching/learning culture so as to create sustainable schemes of language provision.